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Sighting Location

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Location: Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Nov 27, 2023 through Tuesday Dec 12, 2023

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Nov 27, 4:55 PM 4 min 14° 10° above NW 10° above NNE  
Mon Nov 27, 6:32 PM < 1 min 11° 10° above NNW 11° above NNW  
Tue Nov 28, 5:43 PM 2 min 17° 10° above NNW 17° above N  
Wed Nov 29, 4:55 PM 4 min 15° 10° above NNW 10° above NE  
Wed Nov 29, 6:32 PM 1 min 15° 10° above NW 15° above NW  
Thu Nov 30, 5:43 PM 3 min 27° 10° above NW 27° above NNE  
Fri Dec 1, 4:55 PM 5 min 21° 10° above NNW 12° above ENE  
Fri Dec 1, 6:32 PM 2 min 24° 10° above NW 24° above NW  
Sat Dec 2, 5:43 PM 4 min 56° 10° above NW 49° above ENE  
Sun Dec 3, 4:55 PM 6 min 36° 10° above NW 9° above E  
Sun Dec 3, 6:32 PM 3 min 28° 10° above WNW 28° above WSW  
Mon Dec 4, 5:43 PM 6 min 52° 10° above WNW 18° above SSE  
Tue Dec 5, 4:55 PM 7 min 88° 10° above NW 10° above SE  
Tue Dec 5, 6:33 PM 2 min 11° 10° above WSW 10° above SW  
Wed Dec 6, 5:43 PM 5 min 19° 10° above W 10° above S  
Thu Dec 7, 4:54 PM 6 min 32° 10° above WNW 10° above SSE  
Sat Dec 9, 4:55 PM 2 min 12° 10° above WSW 10° above SSW  
{ts '2023-11-27 21:55:00'},Mon Nov 27, 4:55 PM,4 min,14°,10° above NW,10° above NNE|{ts '2023-11-27 23:32:00'},Mon Nov 27, 6:32 PM,< 1 min,11°,10° above NNW,11° above NNW|{ts '2023-11-28 22:43:00'},Tue Nov 28, 5:43 PM,2 min,17°,10° above NNW,17° above N|{ts '2023-11-29 21:55:00'},Wed Nov 29, 4:55 PM,4 min,15°,10° above NNW,10° above NE|{ts '2023-11-29 23:32:00'},Wed Nov 29, 6:32 PM,1 min,15°,10° above NW,15° above NW|{ts '2023-11-30 22:43:00'},Thu Nov 30, 5:43 PM,3 min,27°,10° above NW,27° above NNE|{ts '2023-12-01 21:55:00'},Fri Dec 1, 4:55 PM,5 min,21°,10° above NNW,12° above ENE|{ts '2023-12-01 23:32:00'},Fri Dec 1, 6:32 PM,2 min,24°,10° above NW,24° above NW|{ts '2023-12-02 22:43:00'},Sat Dec 2, 5:43 PM,4 min,56°,10° above NW,49° above ENE|{ts '2023-12-03 21:55:00'},Sun Dec 3, 4:55 PM,6 min,36°,10° above NW,9° above E|{ts '2023-12-03 23:32:00'},Sun Dec 3, 6:32 PM,3 min,28°,10° above WNW,28° above WSW|{ts '2023-12-04 22:43:00'},Mon Dec 4, 5:43 PM,6 min,52°,10° above WNW,18° above SSE|{ts '2023-12-05 21:55:00'},Tue Dec 5, 4:55 PM,7 min,88°,10° above NW,10° above SE|{ts '2023-12-05 23:33:00'},Tue Dec 5, 6:33 PM,2 min,11°,10° above WSW,10° above SW|{ts '2023-12-06 22:43:00'},Wed Dec 6, 5:43 PM,5 min,19°,10° above W,10° above S|{ts '2023-12-07 21:54:00'},Thu Dec 7, 4:54 PM,6 min,32°,10° above WNW,10° above SSE|{ts '2023-12-09 21:55:00'},Sat Dec 9, 4:55 PM,2 min,12°,10° above WSW,10° above SSW|

The space station looks like an airplane or a very bright star moving across the sky, except it doesn't have flashing lights or change direction. It will also be moving considerably faster than a typical airplane (airplanes generally fly at about 600 miles per hour; the space station flies at 17,500 miles per hour).

Below is a time-lapse photo of the space station moving across the sky.

The International Space Station is seen in this 30 second exposure as it flies over Elkton, VA early in the morning, Saturday, August 1, 2015. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls The International Space Station is seen in this 30 second exposure as it flies over Elkton, VA early in the morning, Saturday, August 1, 2015. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Visit the NASA Johnson Flickr Photostream

How do I Spot The Station?

What does all this sighting information mean?

Time is when the sighting opportunity will begin in your local time zone. All sightings will occur within a few hours before or after sunrise or sunset. This is the optimum viewing period as the sun reflects off the space station and contrasts against the darker sky.

Visible is the maximum time period the space station is visible before crossing back below the horizon.

Max Height is measured in degrees (also known as elevation). It represents the height of the space station from the horizon in the night sky. The horizon is at zero degrees, and directly overhead is ninety degrees. If you hold your fist at arm's length and place your fist resting on the horizon, the top will be about 10 degrees.

Appears is the location in the sky where the station will be visible first. This value, like maximum height, also is measured in degrees from the horizon. The letters represent compass directions -- N is north, WNW is west by northwest, and so on.

Disappears represents where in the night sky the International Space Station will leave your field of view.

Astronomical Horizon chart. Click the link for a detailed description of the astronomical horizon and sighting alert messages.